Miami Dolphins 2012 Draft: What Would a Perfect Draft Look Like?

Miami Dolphins 2012 Draft: What Would a Perfect Draft Look Like?

I know, that may be a stretch, but for the sake of argument I will play that part. With the NFL Draft looming, I have drawn up a draft board and sprinkled on team needs.

In my world, there is a dream draft for the Dolphins, where Miami gets every player they want and need at the right time.

Of course, this comes with a few caveats: I rely on providence and my own knowledge of the prospects and team needs. We are also dealing with the parameters of realism—I would love Miami to have 12 first round picks, but I would also like $30 million to appear in my attic overnight.

You will undoubtedly think I am wrong, but I am Bizarro Jeff Ireland—I should be used to that sort of criticism by now.

What does the perfect Dolphins draft look like? Follow me and find out.

Round 1

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Trade Down

Ideally, the Dolphins will trade down on day one of the draft. They do just that here, trading down several spots—perhaps with the Dallas Cowboys—and acquiring another second-round pick. Anything more than that, like a future pick, would be gravy.

Yes, Coples is a polarizing player, but he is getting an unfair rap. While not the biggest producer in college, North Carolina did not exactly give him the best shot, moving him around the line and out of position most of the time. It also contributed to his motivational issues.

Fortunately, for Miami here, his detractors cause him to fall just enough for Miami to take him despite trading down. If taking him with the No. 8 pick was not palatable, snagging him with around the 14th pick should be considered a steal.

Round 2

Miami has two second-round picks after trading down in the first in this mythical draft.

Pick 1: Brandon Weeden, QB, Oklahoma State

This may be wishful thinking, but we are discussing the perfect draft here, which would include a bit of luck as I mentioned.

Weeden's age is cause for concern enough for teams to pass on him until the Dolphins pick in the second round. Miami could consider hopping Cleveland in the round to remove all doubt, but we can pretend Ryan Tannehill fell to 22, where the Browns took him.

Were it not for being 28 years old, Weeden would likely be considered a lock for the top 10 in the draft. He is a big-armed, accurate thrower who produced great numbers in college and should be successful in the NFL, even if he has a shorter shelf life.

Pick 2: Marvin Jones, WR, California

The California product is as underrated as they come, meaning many in Miami may be scratching their heads when he is selected here.

Jones fits the Joe Philbin mold for a receiver to a tee, an ideal fit for his offense. He runs good routes, catches the ball well with big mitts, and excels at running after the catch. He is also 6'2" and runs a 4.4 40-yard dash.

The former Golden Bear was overshadowed by Keenan Allen at Cal, running mostly short routes with erratic quarterback play to boot.

Taking him in the middle of the second round might be a tad high, but the Dolphins get their man at receiver here.

Miami created another position of need when they cut Yeremiah Bell, a leader on the defense who was a casualty of age. Though Miami can and likely will shunt Reshad Jones, Tyrone Culver and Chris Clemons into a competition at strong safety, adding a big, young talent like Iloka would stabilize the back end of the secondary.

Pick 2: Josh Robinson, CB, UCF

Vontae Davis and Sean Smith might be a good duo, but Miami could use another young talent to push them and add depth to the position. While they signed the versatile Richard Marshall as a potential nickel back, he is better suited for free safety.

Robinson is not terribly big at 5'10", but he makes up for it with exceptional athleticism. Not only was he the fastest man at the combine, running a 4.33 40-yard dash, but he was also the best at his position with a 39" vertical leap and 11'1" broad jump.

The three-year starter at UCF brings good experience to the table as well. He may get snapped up too early for Miami to have a shot, but he would make an excellent addition to the defense, and he can return punts to boot.

Round 4

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Pick: Michael Egnew, TE, Missouri

Dolphins fans have been clamoring for help at tight end for years. More pressing needs and the draft board dictated Miami wait on the position.

Egnew is flying under the radar going into the draft, Coby Fleener and Orson Charles dominating the headlines for varying reasons. Losing Blaine Gabbert to the NFL is a direct result, as Egnew caught 40 fewer passes as a senior, sinking his draft stock in the process.

The former receiver is highly athletic with good size at 6'5". He is very good in the passing game, but he is an inexperienced blocker.

That is fine and dandy for me, Bizarro Ireland, because Miami has a fine set of blocking tight ends in Anthony Fasano and Jeron Mastrud. Egnew will share the "joker" role with Charles Clay, giving Joe Philbin a deep set of tight ends with varied skill sets.

Egnew could be one of the steals of the draft when looking back on it in a couple of years.

Round 5

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Pick: Adam Gettis, OG, Iowa

This may be a tad high for Gettis, but the odds he would be there at the end of the sixth round--where Miami's next pick lies--are low.

The guard out of Iowa flashed excellent athleticism at the combine, and that is why Miami will have him this high on their draft board. Joe Philbin and Mike Sherman will covet athletic linemen as they implement a zone-blocking scheme (ZBS).

The main knock on Gettis is his lack of size at 6'2". Still, the ZBS bell tolls for him here in the fifth round.

Moss held an impressive pro day, running a 3-cone drill that would have been tops at the combine. That is incredible agility for a 6'3" receiver.

He is raw, but I will take a flier on the athleticism alone this late in the draft.

Round 7

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Pick: Winston Guy, S, Kentucky

Providence smiles on Bizzaro Ireland again as the versatile defensive back falls to Miami's seventh round pick here.

Guy played cornerback and even linebacker to go along with both safety positions with Kentucky. That kind of versatility makes him an ideal project with the ever-increasing passing fancy in the NFL. He will have the opportunity to learn while